Yoga Styles

The following styles are offered through the Sacramento Yoga Center.
To find out more about a particular style or class, please contact
the instructor offering the course. Each instructor brings their own
unique training and experience to the practice.

Ananda Yoga

This gentle yoga combines breath awareness, affirmations, and yoga postures
to move from body awareness through energy awareness to, finally, silent,
inner awareness. The use of affirmations while in the asanas is a distinct
feature of Ananda yoga. This yoga style was developed by an American,
Donald J. Walters, known as Swami Kriyananda. He devoted 45 years of his life
to studying the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda.

Ananda yoga is a powerful
spiritual practice, not merely an exercise regime. This gentle and highly
effective approach is suitable for all ages, all body types and helps you
feel relaxed, revitalized, and uplifted.

Gentle Yoga

Viniyoga is an ancient Sanskrit term that implies differentiation,
adaptation, and appropriate application. The American Viniyoga Institute
uses the term Viniyoga to refer to an approach to Yoga that adapts the
various means and methods of practice to the unique condition, needs and
interests of each individual - giving each practitioner the tools to
individualize and actualize the process of self-discovery and personal
transformation.

This approach to yoga was developed by Gary Kraftsow
from the teachings of T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar of Madras, India.
There are four points that characterize the main difference between the
Viniyoga approach and most other forms of asana practice:

Gentle Vinyasa

Vinyasa gentle style yoga practice incorporates yogic philosophy &
teachings with the physical practices of asanas and pranayama. Classes
are structured to appeal to those who have never done yoga before as
well as for the experienced practitioner desiring a gentle, revitalizing
class. The class focuses on the mind, body, spirit connection.

Gong Meditation & Kundalini Yoga

The gong is a natural extension of the mantra and music, fundamental
to Kundalini Yoga. Creating non-ordinary and transcendent states of
consciousness by suspending the thought-producing activity of the
mind, true healing on all levels is possible.

The unpredictable, non-linear, complex vibration of the gong allows
deep-seated physical tension in the muscles to relax, the nervous
system to be repaired, and the glandular system to become balanced.
The mind relaxes and clears, relieved temporarily of the constant
pressure of the mind's content. Subconscious habit patterns
(including addictive behaviors) can be broken up, the chakras become
open, balanced, and awakened. A link to the transcendent self can
be realized.

After 35-40 minutes of basic Kundalini Yoga and breathing exercises, relax
and surrender to the sound of the gong, which varies anywhere between
soft, pulsating tones and "build and release" cycles, in which the
sound volume builds to a high level and releases with one or more
"thunderbolt strikes". Be prepared for a truly wonderful and
transporting experience!

Hatha Yoga

Hatha Yoga focuses the practitioner's attention on proper alignment
while increasing strength and flexibility in the physical body as
well as focus and calm in the mind. The meaning of Yoga is union;
thus, yoga is the union of mind, body, and breath with the result of
stability, ease, and meditation in action. The asanas, or physical
postures, and their variations are grouped into standing poses,
twisting and forward bending poses, back extension poses, and
restorative poses. Usually the class will focus on one of these
categories each week.

We work with the body as it is today, adapting yoga postures to meet
individual needs. Yoga tones and strengthens muscles, alleviates pain
and improves posture. Together, we cultivate grace, fitness and poise.
Each pose is an expression of yourself, for your self.

Healthy Aging Yoga

A gentle and focused approach supporting balance, mobility and joint health.
Seated modifications available for those unable to access the floor.
Start where you are. No prior yoga experience necessary.

Kundalini Yoga

Kundalini yoga was introduced to this country in 1968 by Yogi Bhajan.
This ancient form of yoga combines active movement and stretching with
many specific breathing techniques (pranayama). Facilitating circulation
throughout the spinal column, exercise sets (kriyas) are combined with
sound vibration (mantras), hand positions (mudras), and body locks (bhundas),
in order to enhance their effectiveness. In so doing, they serve to dissolve
energy blockages within the energy matrix of the body, creating a natural,
meditative, blissful state of mind.

One not need be particularly flexible or
athletic to enjoy the profound benefits of Kundalini yoga; all that is
required is the sincere willingness to try one's best while respecting
your comfort levels and physical limitations.

In the words of Yogi Bhajan:
"Kundalini Yoga is the science to unite the finite with Infinity and it is
the art to experience Infinity in the finite."

Laughter Yoga

Laughter Yoga (Hasya Yoga) is an innovative wellness practice developed
by Dr. Madan Kataria - an Indian physician from Mumbai - that is practiced
by thousands of people all over the world. Laughter Yoga is a total health
elixir that takes care of physical stress, mental stress and emotional
stress all at once. There is no need for pills or pricey therapy sessions
when you do Laughter Yoga! This simple yet profound practice reduces stress,
boosts your immune system, improves heart health and oxygenation of your
blood, helps overcome depression, decreases pain and so much more! Hasya
Yoga combines unconditional laughter exercises with deep yogic breathing
and includes meditation and relaxation as well. It is a super fun way to
feel connected to yourself and others, and to relax. A good laugh wrings
the old energy out of your body to make space for fresh, new energy,
creativity and joy to flood in. You will leave a session feeling relaxed
and quite energized! Laughter Yoga is also an opportunity to restore our
natural states of relaxation, joy, acceptance, forgiveness and compassion,
and therefore promotes world peace. Classes are open to all regardless of
fitness level. Just bring a playful attitude! The more the merrier... so
bringing friends is encouraged. Laughter is the best medicine after all
and you'll want to share it!

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga invites you to slow down and create space for stillness.
Focusing on the connective tissues of the body, postures are held
3-5minutes allowing joints, energy and fascia to release. This class
is mainly floor work, using as many props as needed to create as little
effort as possible while holding poses

This is an all levels class, those new to yoga, advanced students and
everything in between.